A multi-service network switch capable of providing multiple network services from a single platform. The switch incorporates a distributed packet forwarding architecture where each of the various cards is capable of making independent forwarding decisions. The switch further allows for dynamic resource management for dynamically assigning modem and ISDN resources to an incoming call. The switch may also include fault management features to guard against single points of failure within the switch. The switch further allows the partitioning of the switch into multiple virtual routers where each virtual router has its own set of resources and a routing table. Each virtual router is further partitioned into virtual private networks for further controlling access to the network. The switch supports policy based routing where specific routing paths are selected based on a domain name, a telephone number, and the like. The switch also provides tiered access of the Internet by defining quality of access levels to each incoming connection request. The switch may further support an IP routing protocol and architecture in which the layer two protocols are independent of the physical interface they run on. Furthermore, the switch includes a generic forwarding interface software for hiding the details of transmitting and receiving packets over different interface types.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A multi-service network switch for transferring blocks of data to a particular destination address, the switch comprising: a plurality of interface modules, each interface module comprising: a processor adapted to assign a data path resource to the block of data and adapted to execute program instructions comprising: identifying a characteristic of a connection request, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a type of line interface, user login information, telephone number, source address of the data block, and destination address of the data block; selecting a router based on the identified characteristic; and forwarding a data block to the selected router; at least one line interface for receiving the connection request; and a first memory for storing a forwarding table including a list of destination addresses and a best known route to each destination address, wherein the best known route comprises at least one of lowest cost and port location; and a system control module including a second memory for storing a routing table including a list of destination addresses reachable by each of the interface modules and all known routes to each destination address, the routing table being referenced if the particular destination address is not found in the forwarding table; and an interconnection for interconnecting the interface modules and the system control module and for transferring the blocks of data for the particular destination address.
2. A multi-service network switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the data block originates from a user.
3. A multi-service network switch as claimed in claim 1 wherein the interconnection is at least one bus for interconnecting the interface modules and the system control module and for transferring the blocks of data having the particular destination address.
4. A multi-service network switch for transferring blocks of data to a particular destination address, the switch comprising: a plurality of interface modules, each interface module comprising: a processor adapted to assign a data path resource to the block of data and adapted to execute program instructions comprising: identifying a characteristic of a connection request; retrieving call profile information based on the identified characteristic, wherein the call profile information includes an access level to be assigned to the connection request, the access level being associated with an access threshold indicative of a maximum number of system resources that may be in use before the connection request is granted; selecting a router based on the identified characteristic; and forwarding a data block to the selected router; at least one line interface for receiving the connection request; and a first memory for storing a forwarding table including a list of destination addresses and a best known route to each destination address, wherein the best known route comprises at least one of lowest cost and port location; and a system control module including a second memory for storing a routing table including a list of destination addresses reachable by each of the interface modules and all known routes to each destination address, the routing table being referenced if the particular destination address is not found in the forwarding table; and an interconnection for interconnecting the interface modules and the system control module and for transferring the blocks of data for the particular destination address.
5. A multi-service network switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the data block originates from a user.
6. A multi-service network switch as claimed in claim 4 wherein the interconnection is at least one bus for interconnecting the interface modules and the system control module and for transferring the blocks of data having the particular destination address.
7. A multi-service network switch for transferring blocks of data to a particular destination address, the switch comprising: a plurality of interface modules, each interface module comprising: a processor configured to assign a data path resource to the block of data wherein the processor is adapted to execute program instructions comprising: identifying a particular resource to be allocated to a connection request; querying the list of resources for the particular resource; and allocating the particular resources to the connection request if the particular resource is identified as being available; at least one line interface for receiving the connection request; and a first memory for storing a forwarding table including a list of destination addresses and a best known route to each destination address, wherein the best known route comprises at least one of lowest cost and port location, wherein the first memory further stores a list of resources and information about availability of each of the resources, a system control module comprising a second memory for storing a routing table including a list of destination addresses reachable by each of the interface modules and all known routes to each destination address, the routing table being referenced if the particular destination address is not found in the forwarding table; and an interconnection for interconnecting the interface modules and the system control module and for transferring the blocks of data for the particular destination address.
8. A multi-service network switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein the connection request originates from a user.
9. A multi-service network switch as claimed in claim 7 wherein the interconnection is at least one bus for interconnecting the interface modules and the system control module and for transferring the blocks of data having the particular destination address.
10. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the list of resources is a list of resources local to the interface module.
11. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions further comprise: communicating a request for the particular resource form an interface module receiving the connection request to remaining interface modules; receiving a response indicating that the particular resource is available; and communicating a request to allocate the identified resource.
12. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions further include: assigning an access level to the connection request based on a characteristic of the connection request, the access level being associated with an access threshold; determining an amount of current usage for the particular resource; and allocating the identified resource to the connection request if the amount of current usage is less than the access threshold associated wit the assigned access level.
13. The switch of claim 9 , wherein the program instructions further include: creating a plurality of virtual routers, each virtual router being allocated a plurality of resources; maintaining the list of resources according to the virtual routers; identifying the virtual router associated with the connection request; and determining whether the identified particular resource is available for the identified virtual router.
14. In a multi-service network switch including a plurality of interface modules and a system control module, a method for forwarding data blocks to a destination address comprising: storing in each interface module a forwarding table including a list of destination addresses and a best known route to each destination address, wherein the best known route comprises at least one of lowest cost and port location; storing in the system control module a routing table including a list of destination addresses reachable by each of the interface modules and all known routes to each destination address reachable from the interface modules, the routing table being referenced if the particular destination address is not found in the forwarding table; receiving a connection request; identifying a characteristic of the connection request, wherein the characteristic is selected from the group consisting of a type of line interface, user login information, telephone number, source address of the data block, and destination address of the data block; selecting a router based on the identified characteristic; receiving at a particular interface module a block of data for forwarding to the particular destination address; causing a processor in the particular interface module to assign a data path resource to the block of data; and forwarding the data block to the particular destination address and thereby forwarding the data block to the selected router.
15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the data block originates from a user.
16. In a multi-service network switch including a plurality of interface modules and a system control module, a method for forwarding data blocks to a destination address comprising: storing in each interface module a forwarding table including a list of destination addresses and a best known route to each destination address, wherein the best known route comprises at least one of lowest cost and port location; storing in the system control module a routing table including a list of destination addresses reachable by each of the interface modules and all known routes to each destination address reachable from the interface modules, the routing table being referenced if the particular destination address is not found in the forwarding table; receiving a connection request; identifying a characteristic of the connection request; retrieving call profile information based on the identified characteristic wherein the call profile information includes an access level to be assigned to the connection request, the access level being associated with an access threshold indicative of a maximum number of system resources that may be in use before the connection request is granted selecting a router based on the identified characteristic; receiving at a particular interface module a block of data for forwarding to the particular destination address; causing a processor in the particular interface module to assign a data path resource to the block of data; and forwarding the data block to the particular destination address and thereby forwarding the data block to the selected router.
17. The method as claimed in claim 16 wherein the data block originates from a user.
18. In a multi-service network switch including a plurality of interface modules and a system control module, a method for forwarding data blocks to a destination address comprising: storing in each interface module a forwarding table including a list of destination addresses and a best known route to each destination address, wherein the best known route comprises at least one of lowest cost and port location; maintaining in each interface module a list of resources and information about availability of each of the resources; storing in the system control module a routing table including a list of destination addresses reachable by each of the interface modules and all known routes to each destination address reachable from the interface modules, the routing table being referenced if the particular destination address is not found in the forwarding table; receiving a connection request; identifying a characteristic of the connection request; identifying a particular resource to be allocated to the connection request; querying the list of resources for the particular resource; allocating the particular resource to the connection request if the particular resource is identified as being available receiving at a particular interface module a block of data for forwarding to the particular destination address; causing a processor in the particular interface module to assign a data path resource to the block of data; and forwarding the data block to the particular destination address.
19. The method as claimed in claim 18 wherein the data block originates from a user.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the list of resources is a list of resources local to the interface module.
21. The method of claim 18 further comprising: communicating a request for the particular resource from an interface module receiving the connection request to remaining interface modules; receiving a response indicating that the particular resource is available; and communicating a request to allocate the identified resource.
22. The method of claim 18 further comprising: assigning an access level to the connection request based on a characteristic of the connection request, the access level being associated with an access threshold; determining an amount of current usage for the particular resource; and allocating the identified resource to the connection request if the amount of current usage is less than the access threshold associated with the assigned access level.
23. The method of claim 18 further comprising: creating a plurality of virtual routers, each virtual router being allocated a plurality of resources; maintaining the list of resources according to the virtual routers; identifying the virtual router associated with the connection request; and determining whether the identified particular resource is available for the identified virtual router.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
February 23, 2000
February 1, 2005
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